U.S. patent number 6,066,162 [Application Number 09/183,131] was granted by the patent office on 2000-05-23 for pacifier with retractable nipple.
Invention is credited to Cartresa Hudson.
United States Patent |
6,066,162 |
Hudson |
May 23, 2000 |
Pacifier with retractable nipple
Abstract
A pacifier with retractable nipple wherein the nipple is
retractable into the pacifier when the pacifier is not in use. The
pacifier includes a pacifier body; a resilient, flexible nipple
structure attached to the top edge of the pacifier body portion;
and a retraction mechanism mechanically connected to a nipple tip
portion of the nipple structure for mechanically inverting the
nipple tip portion and pulling it within a compartment formed
within the pacifier.
Inventors: |
Hudson; Cartresa (Wilmette,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
22671577 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/183,131 |
Filed: |
October 30, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/234 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J
17/113 (20200501); A61J 17/001 (20150501) |
Current International
Class: |
A61J
17/00 (20060101); A61B 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;606/234,235,236
;215/11.1-11.6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Buiz; Michael
Assistant Examiner: Trinh; Vikki
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Breaux; Joseph N.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pacifier with retractable nipple comprising:
a pacifier body portion having a bottom body portion opening;
a resilient, flexible nipple structure attached to a top edge of
said pacifier body portion and having a nipple tip portion; and
a retraction mechanism mechanically connected to a nipple tip
portion of said nipple structure for mechanically inverting said
nipple tip portion and pulling it within a compartment formed
within said pacifier;
said nipple tip portion having a nipple tip attachment hook
extending from an interior surface thereof;
said retraction mechanism including a retraction rod having an open
loop end mechanically connected to said nipple tip attachment hook,
a ring shaped moveable handle attached to an opposite end of said
retraction rod, a cone shaped extension stop portion formed on said
retraction rod near said ring shaped handle and tapered from a
largest end toward said open loop end of said retraction rod, a
cone shaped retraction stop portion formed on said retraction rod
near said open loop end and tapered from a largest end toward said
ring shaped moveable handle, and a resilient position locking ring
affixed along a perimeter edge thereof to an interior surface of
said pacifier body portion and having a retraction rod passageway
formed therethrough through which a central portion of said
retraction rod between said cone shaped extension stop portion and
said cone shaped retraction stop portion is slidably
positioned;
said retraction rod passageway having a diameter less than said
largest ends of said cone shaped extension stop portion and said
cone shaped retraction stop portion such that when said cone shaped
extension stop portion and said cone shaped retraction stop portion
are forced, tapered end first, respectively, into said retraction
rod passageway, said resilient position locking ring expands and
grips said respective stop portion;
a bottom section of said retraction rod located between said cone
shaped extension stop portion and said ring shaped moveable handle
being slidably positioned through said bottom body portion opening.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to baby pacifiers and the like and
more particularly to a pacifier with a retractable nipple that
includes a pacifier body portion having a bottom body portion
opening; a resilient, flexible nipple structure attached to the top
edge of the pacifier body portion; and a retraction mechanism
mechanically connected to a nipple tip portion of the nipple
structure for mechanically inverting the nipple tip portion and
pulling it within a compartment formed within the pacifier; the
nipple tip portion having a nipple tip attachment hook extending
from an interior surface thereof; the retraction mechanism
including a retraction rod having an open loop end mechanically
connected to the nipple tip attachment hook, a ring shaped moveable
handle attached to the opposite end of the retraction rod, a cone
shaped extension stop portion formed on the retraction rod near the
ring shaped handle and tapered toward the open loop end of the
retraction rod, a cone shaped retraction stop portion formed on the
retraction rod near the open loop end and tapered toward the ring
shaped moveable handle, and a resilient position locking ring
affixed along the perimeter edge thereof to an interior surface of
the pacifier body portion and having a retraction rod passageway
formed therethrough through which a central portion of the
retraction rod between the cone shaped extension stop portion and
the cone shaped retraction stop portion is slidably positioned; the
retraction rod passageway having a diameter less than the largest
ends of the cone shaped extension stop portion and the cone shaped
retraction stop portion such that the when the cone shaped
extension stop portion and the cone shaped retraction stop portion
are force tapered end first, respectively, into the retraction rod
passageway the resilient position locking ring expands and grips
the respective cone shaped retraction stop portion and cone shaped
extension stop portion; a bottom section of the retraction rod
located between the cone shaped extension stop portion and the ring
shaped moveable handle being slidably positioned through the bottom
body portion opening.
BACKGROUND ART
Child care providers often use a pacifier to entertain and quiet
infants. The pacifier typically includes a nipple that is inserted
into the infant's mouth upon which the infant sucks. Although the
pacifier pacifies and entertains the infant, the nipple can become
contaminants with dirt, hair and the like when the pacifier is not
being used. It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a pacifier
that included a nipple that was retractable when not in use to
prevent contamination of the nipple.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a pacifier with
retractable nipple wherein the nipple is retractable into the
pacifier when the pacifier is not in use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a pacifier with
retractable nipple that includes a pacifier body portion having a
bottom body portion opening; a resilient, flexible nipple structure
attached to the top edge of the pacifier body portion; and a
retraction mechanism mechanically connected to a nipple tip portion
of the nipple structure for mechanically inverting the nipple tip
portion and pulling it within a compartment formed within the
pacifier; the nipple tip portion having a nipple tip attachment
hook extending from an interior surface thereof; the retraction
mechanism including a retraction rod having an open loop end
mechanically connected to the nipple tip attachment hook, a ring
shaped moveable handle attached to the opposite end of the
retraction rod, a cone shaped extension stop portion formed on the
retraction rod near the ring shaped handle and tapered toward the
open loop end of the retraction rod, a cone shaped retraction stop
portion formed on the retraction rod near the open loop end and
tapered toward the ring shaped moveable handle, and a resilient
position locking ring affixed along the perimeter edge thereof to
an interior surface of the pacifier body portion and having a
retraction rod passageway formed therethrough through which a
central portion of the retraction rod between the cone shaped
extension stop portion and the cone shaped retraction stop portion
is slidably positioned; the retraction rod passageway having a
diameter less than the largest ends of the cone shaped extension
stop portion and the cone shaped retraction stop portion such that
the when the cone shaped extension stop portion and the cone shaped
retraction stop portion are force tapered end first, respectively,
into the retraction rod passageway the resilient position locking
ring expands and grips the respective cone shaped retraction stop
portion and cone shaped extension stop portion; a bottom section of
the retraction rod located between the cone shaped extension stop
portion and the ring shaped moveable handle being slidably
positioned through the bottom body portion opening.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a pacifier
with retractable nipple that accomplishes both of the above objects
in combination.
Accordingly, a pacifier with retractable nipple is provided. The
pacifier with retractable nipple includes a pacifier body portion
having a bottom body portion opening; a resilient, flexible nipple
structure attached to the top edge of the pacifier body portion;
and a retraction mechanism mechanically connected to a nipple tip
portion of the nipple structure for mechanically inverting the
nipple tip portion and pulling it within a compartment formed
within the pacifier; the nipple tip portion having a nipple tip
attachment hook extending from an interior surface thereof; the
retraction mechanism including a retraction rod having an open loop
end mechanically connected to the nipple tip attachment hook, a
ring shaped moveable handle attached to the opposite end of the
retraction rod, a cone shaped extension stop portion formed on the
retraction rod near the ring shaped handle and tapered toward the
open loop end of the retraction rod, a cone shaped retraction stop
portion formed on the retraction rod near the open loop end and
tapered toward the ring shaped moveable handle, and a resilient
position locking ring affixed along the perimeter edge thereof to
an interior surface of the pacifier body portion and having a
retraction rod passageway formed therethrough through which a
central portion of the retraction rod between the cone shaped
extension stop portion and the cone shaped retraction stop portion
is slidably positioned; the retraction rod passageway having a
diameter less than the largest ends of the cone shaped extension
stop portion and the cone shaped retraction stop portion such that
the when the cone shaped extension stop portion and the cone shaped
retraction stop portion are force tapered end first, respectively,
into the retraction rod passageway the resilient position locking
ring expands and grips the respective cone shaped retraction stop
portion and cone shaped extension stop portion; a bottom section of
the retraction rod located between the cone shaped extension stop
portion and the ring shaped moveable handle being slidably
positioned through the bottom body portion opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the
present invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous
reference numbers and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
pacifier with retractable nipple of the present invention showing
the pacifier body portion; the resilient, flexible nipple structure
attached to the top edge of the pacifier body portion; and the
moveable ring shaped handle of the nipple retraction mechanism.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the exemplary pacifier with
retractable nipple of FIG. 1 showing the nipple tip attachment look
extending from an interior surface of the nipple tip and
mechanically linked through the open loop end of the retraction rod
of the retraction mechanism, the retraction rod extending between
the nipple tip attachment hook and the ring shaped moveable handle
and through the retraction rod passageway of the resilient position
locking ring and the bottom opening of the pacifier body portion; a
cone shaped extension stop portion formed on the retraction rod
near the ring shaped moveable handle; and a cone shaped retraction
stop portion formed on the retraction rod near the open loop end;
each stop portion being sized larger than the retraction rod
passageway of the resilient position locking ring; the perimeter
edge of the resilient position locking ring being adhesively
secured to the interior surface of the pacifier body portion.
FIG. 3 is section view showing the nipple tip retracted and the
cone shaped retraction stop portion resiliently lodged within the
retraction rod passageway of the resilient position locking ring
maintaining the nipple tip in the retracted position.
FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view showing the nipple tip
attachment hook extending from an interior surface of the nipple
tip and mechanically linked through the open loop end of the
retraction rod of the retraction mechanism; the retraction rod
extending between the nipple tip attachment hook and the ring
shaped moveable handle and through the retraction rod passageway of
the resilient position locking ring; the cone shaped extension stop
portion tapered toward the open loop end of the retraction rod; and
and the cone shaped retraction stop portion tapered toward the
ring shaped moveable handle; the resilient position locking ring
being positioned between the cone shaped extension stop portion and
the cone shaped retraction stop portion.
EXEMPLARY MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the pacifier with
retractable nipple of the present invention generally designated by
the numeral 10. Pacifier with retractable nipple 10 includes a
molded plastic pacifier body portion, generally designated 12; a
resilient, flexibie latex nipple structure, generally designated
14, attached to a top edge 16 of pacifier body portion 12; and a
moveable ring shaped handle 18 of a nipple retraction mechanism,
generally designated 20, that is used to retract a nipple tip 22 of
nipple structure 14 into pacifier 10.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a nipple tip attachment hook 24 extends
from an interior surface 26 of nipple tip 22. Nipple tip attachment
hook 24 mechanically links nipple tip 22 to an open loop end 28 of
a retraction rod 30 that forms a portion of retraction mechanism
20. Retraction rod 30 is of molded plastic construction and
extending between nipple tip attachment hook 24 and ring shaped
moveable handle 18 and passing through a retraction rod passageway
34 (See also FIG. 4) of a resilient position locking ring 36 and a
bottom opening 38 of pacifier body portion 12. A cone shaped
extension stop portion 40 is formed on retraction rod 30 near ring
shaped handle 18 and is tapered from a largest end 46 toward open
loop end 28. A cone shaped retraction stop portion 48 is formed on
retraction rod 30 near open loop end 28 and is tapered from a
largest end 50 toward ring shaped moveable handle 18. Resilient
position locking ring 36 is affixed along perimeter edge 56 thereof
to an interior surface 58 of pacifier body portion 12.
Referring to FIG. 4, retraction rod 30 is positioned through
retraction rod passageway 34 of resilient locking ring 36 such that
resilient locking ring 36 is trapped along a central portion 60 of
retraction rod 30 between cone shaped extension stop portion 40 and
cone shaped retraction stop portion 48. Referring back to FIG. 2,
nipple tip 22 is positioned into the extended position for use by
pushing movable handle 18 toward pacifier body portion 12 until
cone shaped extension stop portion 40 is forced into retraction rod
passageway 34 and gripped by resilient locking ring 36. Referring
now to FIG. 3, when it is desired to store pacifier 10 after use,
nipple tip 22 is retracted into a compartment 68 formed within
pacifier 10 by pulling ring shaped moveable handle 18 until cone
shaped retraction stop portion 48 is forced into retraction rod
passageway 34 and gripped by resilient locking ring 36. Nipple tip
22 is then protected from contamination by dirt, hair, and the
like.
It can be seen from the preceding description that a pacifier with
retractable nipple has been provided wherein the nipple is
retractable into the pacifier when the pacifier is not in use; and
that includes a pacifier body portion having a bottom body portion
opening; a resilient, flexible nipple structure attached to the top
edge of the pacifier body portion; and a retraction mechanism
mechanically connected to a nipple tip portion of the nipple
structure for mechanically inverting the nipple tip portion and
pulling it within a compartment formed within the pacifier; the
nipple tip portion having a nipple tip attachment hook extending
from an interior surface thereof; the retraction mechanism
including a retraction rod having an open loop end mechanically
connected to the nipple tip attachment hook, a ring shaped moveable
handle attached to the opposite end of the retraction rod, a cone
shaped extension stop portion formed on the retraction rod near the
ring shaped handle and tapered toward the open loop end of the
retraction rod, a cone shaped retraction stop portion formed on the
retraction rod near the open loop end and tapered toward the ring
shaped moveable handle, and a resilient position locking ring
affixed along the perimeter edge thereof to an interior surface of
the pacifier body portion and having a retraction rod passageway
formed therethrough through which a central portion of the
retraction rod between the cone shaped extension stop portion and
the cone shaped retraction stop portion is slidably positioned; the
retraction rod passageway having a diameter less than the largest
ends of the cone shaped extension stop portion and the cone shaped
retraction stop portion such that the when the cone shaped
extension stop portion and the cone shaped retraction stop portion
are force tapered end first, respectively, into the retraction rod
passageway the resilient position locking ring expands and grips
the respective cone shaped retraction stop portion and cone shaped
extension stop portion; a bottom section of the retraction rod
located between the cone shaped extension stop portion and the ring
shaped moveable handle being slidably positioned through the bottom
body portion opening.
It is noted that the embodiment of the pacifier with retractable
nipple described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of
course subject to many different variations in structure, design,
application and methodology. Because many varying and different
embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive
concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be
made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the
descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that
the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in
a limiting sense.
* * * * *